Step-frame for carriage box-seats.



No. 1655,0l0. Patented luly' 3|, 1900.

W. REECK.

STEP FRAME FOR CARRIAGE BOX SEATS.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES T PATENT OFFICE.

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WILHELM annex, or cosLnv, GERMANT'.

STEP-FRAME or: CAR IAGE Box sEArs;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,010, dated July 31,

lipplicatioufiledDe0einher7,1899. Serial No. 735,483. (No man.)

To alZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM REEOK,'carriage-builder, a subject of ,the German Emperor,residing at Otislin,Prussia,German Empire,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Framesfor Carriage Box- Seats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being. had to, the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to carriages and similar road-vehicles, more particularly to fourwheeled vehicles; and it consists in an improved arrangement or construction of a stepframe for ascending the drivers or box seat at the front wheel. Ordinarily either no steps are used or only one step, the person ascending the box-seat stepping upon the wheel nave, the step, and the tire, which is inconvenient, especially when the roads are dirty, and often causes accidents if the horses start during the mounting. These inconveniences are obviated by the improved step-frame, which can be applied both to new and to existing carriages and is so arranged that the part above the top and in front of the wheel can be readily removed when the wheel'is to be taken off.

On the drawings appended hereunto, Figures l and 2 represent a dog-cart fitted with the improved arrangement of step-frame, and Figs. 3 to 6 represent details of the same.

The improved step-frame consists of a forkshaped frame composed of a strut-fixed upon the front-wheel axle at the back of the wheel, a tread extending over the top of the wheel, and a step-carrier hanging from the tread in front of the wheel and fitted with steps. It is made in two or more pieces connected together, so that the tread and step-carrier can be readily removed. Preferably it is constructed in the manner shown on the draw ings of three parts B, O, andD and hereinafter described.

Upon the axle A a strut B is fixed, which at its upper end is forked into two parts a a, Fig. 3, which terminate in pins a a. Upon. these the two tubular back legs 17 b of a threelegged stool O, and/l, are pushed, the

top of which forms a tread if, extending across the wheelin such a manner that the wheel can turn freely between the said legs I; b,.an.d the third leg Z9 hangs .down'in frontofit. Into this hollow leg I) the stirrup shaped "step-carrier D is inserted with its upper pin 0, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, which carrier is formed at its lower end with the step t and in its middle part with the lateral step if.

The parts 0 and D are connected by means of a set-screw or other suitable means.

In order to enable the step-frame to be manufactured wholesale and suitable for all sizes of wheels, the pins (1' and c and the tubular sockets for them are made of such length that distance rings or washers r r can be placed upon the pins. By using more or less of such washers the distance between the tread t and the axle and step t can be varied, so that the wheel can in all cases turn clear of the tread 25.

Where the axle is what is usually called a patent axle, a cover on the hub, as shown on the right hand of Fig. 2, the rings 1" are preferably made of elastic material, such as india rubber. In consequence of this arrangement the lowest part 25 rests on the wheel-hub that is to say, a fixed supportwhen a person mounts, and the danger of the step-frame becoming bent by the one-sided load is obviated. The person mounting over the front wheel thus finds a stationary, firm, and broad tread t and even if the horses start during the mounting the support of the foot is not influenced thereby.

When the carriage has an ordinary axle arranged for taking off the wheel to grease it, the improved step-frame oifers a convenient means for preventing the axle-nuts from becomingdetached. For this purpose a lug d is forged or fixed on the step i having an opening shaped to fit the nut, which when pushed over the same renders a turning of the nut impossible. Thereby the detachment or loss of these nuts is prevented in the simplest manner. The lug may be open at theibottom and shaped like the jaw of a screw-key.

The top tread t forms a mud-guard for the front wheel and may for this purpose be extended on both sides around the wheel in order to increase its eifect.

The strut B may be fixed to the axle A in the manner shown 'by Figs. 2 and 3 or in any other convenient way to suit the front axle, and carriage. 7

Instead of the tread t having tubularlegs these may be solid and the parts B and D formed with tubes instead of pins, or equivalent sliding parts may be used.

The improved step-frame offers the follow lowing advantages: first, absence of danger; in mounting the box-seat even while driving; second, the necessity of using this step under all circumstances, which prevents the mounting or descending outof recklessness or intention in the usual dangerous way; third, a saving of clothing, as this will not come as easily into contact with the dusty or dirty wheel-tire as with the usual arrangement; fourth, a mud-guard for the front wheels formed bythe top tread, and, fifth, the secur-i ing of the nuts on the wheel-axle where these,

are not in'c'losed, Having described my invention, what I;

claim is V l of which frame forms a strut fixed to the;

wheel-axle while the outer leg and the top are detachably pushed upon saidstrut, theoutef 'leg being provided with steps,-sul )stantially as shown and described-and for the purpose specified.

of which frame forms a strut fixed to the wheel-axle while the outer leg and the top are detachably pushed upon said strut and supported at the lower end by the outer end of the wheel-axle, substantially as shown and described and for the purpose specified.

, 3. The combination with a vehicle of a forked frame secured at one end to the wheelaxlewithin the wheel, thence extending up, outward and then downward outside of the wheel, the outer leg of the frame being provided with steps, and the top where the two legs join forming a broad top step, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof'l have hereunto set-my hand in presence of two witnesses.

WILHELM Witnesses HANS GRAIsER,

FRANZ TERPE. 

